The Alberta government has issued fire advisories for both the Whitecourt Forest Area and Lac Ste. Anne County due to dry weather.

Oneil Carlier, Whitecourt-Ste. Anne MLA and agriculture and forestry minister, explained that these advisories were issued in order to be prudent.

“We had some good moisture in the winter,” Carlier said. “We haven’t had any since then.”

He added that May was typically a dry month and that the advisories would stay in place until rain comes or the humidity increased.

On May 2, a wildfire the size of one hectare occurred west of Whitecourt. A brush pile was the cause and 15 firefighters and 2 helicopters brought the fire under control within a few hours.

Carlier noted that Alberta has already seen over 100 wildfires this year, although a majority of those were put out within 24 hours. He added that the recent floods in Woodlands County had no impact on the wildfire risk.

Burning within the Whitecourt Forest Area, excluding campfires, is now prohibited. Current fire permits, besides burn barrels, are also suspended and no new permits will be issued until conditions improve.

For Lac Ste. Anne County, fireworks are not permitted and transfer stations must restrict burning to mornings or evenings. No new permits will be issued, but several types of fires are still allowed, including internal household fireplaces, incinerators, burning barrels and others.

Carlier noted that humans cause 70 per cent of wildfires.

“All of us should take some responsibility,” Carlier said. “Be careful, especially with an advisory.”

For more information on current fire restrictions, visit www.albertafirebans.ca.